Jaishankar calls for avoiding escalation and exercising restraint as tensions between Israel and Iran continue to spiral
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during separate phone conversations with his Iranian and Israeli counterparts on Sunday, conveyed India’s concerns over the situation in West Asia and emphasized the need to avoid escalation.
During Jaishankar’s conversation with Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, he took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries, a cargo vessel seized by Iranian forces early on Saturday.
Indian authorities had said hours after the vessel was seized by a special forces unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) about 80 km off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that they were in touch with their Iranian counterparts to ensure the security and early release of 17 Indian nationals among the 25-member crew of the ship.
After Jaishankar’s conversation with his Iranian counterpart, the Indian government officials will be allowed to meet the 17 Indian crew members onboard an Israel-linked cargo ship seized by Iran, the foreign ministry of Iran said on Monday.
India has been in touch with Iran to secure the release of the crew members soon after the ship was captured on Saturday.
The 17 Indians on board the Portuguese-flagged and Israel-affiliated cargo vessel include the master. The crew also has four Filipinos, two Pakistanis, one Russian, and one Estonian.
Jaishankar has called for avoiding escalation and exercising restraint as tensions between Israel and Iran continue to spiral.
“We are seriously concerned at the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran which threatens the peace and security in the region. We call for immediate de-escalation, exercise of restraint, stepping back from violence and return to the path of diplomacy,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.
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